12-06 GEN RECOMMENDATION BY ICCAT ON A PROGRAMME FOR TRANSSHIPMENT TAKING ACCOUNT of the need to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activities because they undermine the effectiveness of the conservation and management measures already adopted by ICCAT; EXPRESSING GRAVE CONCERN that organized tuna laundering operations have been conducted and a significant amount of catches by IUU fishing vessels have been transshipped under the names of duly licensed fishing vessels; IN VIEW THEREFORE OF THE NEED to ensure the monitoring of the transshipment activities by large- scale pelagic longline vessels (LSPLVs) in the Convention area, including the control of their landings; TAKING ACCOUNT of the need to ensure collection of catch data from such LSPLVs to improve the scientific assessments of those stocks; THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS (ICCAT) RECOMMENDS THAT: SECTION 1. GENERAL RULES 1. Except under the program to monitor transshipment at sea established in Section 2 below, all transshipment operations: a) within the Convention area of tuna and tuna-like species and other species caught in association with these species, and b) outside the Convention area of tuna and tuna-like species and other species caught in association with these species that were harvested in the ICCAT Convention area, must take place in port. 2. The flag Contracting Party, Cooperating non-Contracting Party, Entity or Fishing Entity (hereafter referred to as CPCs) shall take the necessary measures to ensure that fishing vessels flying their flag comply with the obligations set out in Annex 3, when transshipping tuna and tuna-like species and any other species caught in association with these species in port. 3. This Recommendation does not apply to harpoon vessels engaged in the transshipment of fresh swordfish1 at sea. 4. This Recommendation does not apply to transshipments outside the Convention area where such transshipment is subject to a comparable monitoring program established by another regional fisheries management organization. 5. This Recommendation is without prejudice to additional requirements applicable to transshipment at sea or in port in other ICCAT recommendations. SECTION 2. PROGRAMME TO MONITOR TRANSSHIPMENT AT SEA 6. At sea transshipment by LSPLVs for tuna and tuna-like species and other species caught in association with these species may only be authorized in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sections 3, 4 and 5, and Annexes 1 and 2 below. 1 For the purpose of this Recommendation, “fresh swordfish” means swordfish that are alive, whole or gutted / dressed but not further processed or frozen. 1 7. For the purposes of this Recommendation, LSPLVs shall be defined as those greater than 24 meters length overall. SECTION 3. RECORD OF VESSELS AUTHORISED TO RECEIVE TRANSSHIPMENT IN THE ICCAT AREA 8. Transhipment of tuna and tuna-like species and other species caught in association with these species may only be authorized with regard to carrier vessels authorized in accordance with this Recommendation. 9. An ICCAT Record of Carrier Vessels authorized to receive tuna and tuna-like species and any other species caught in association with these species in the Convention area from LSPLVs shall be established. For the purposes of this Recommendation, carrier vessels not entered on the record are deemed not to be authorized to receive tuna and tuna-like species and any other species caught in association with these species in transshipment operations. 10. In order for its carrier vessels to be included on the ICCAT Record List of Carrier Vessels, a flag CPC or flag non-Contracting Party (NCP) shall submit each calendar year, electronically, and in the format specified by the ICCAT Executive Secretary, a list of the carrier vessels that are authorized to receive transshipments from LSPLVs in the Convention area. This list shall include the following information: − Name of vessel, register number − ICCAT Record Number (if any) − IMO number (if any) − Previous name (if any) − Previous flag (if any) − Previous details of deletion from other registries (if any) − International radio call sign − Type of vessels, length, gross registered tonnage (GRT) and carrying capacity − Name and address of owner(s) and operator(s) − Time period authorized for transshipping Each flag CPC that authorizes its LSPLVs to transship at sea shall submit each calendar year electronically and in the format specified by the Executive Secretary, the list of its LSPLVs that are authorized to transship at sea. This list shall include the following information: − Name of vessel, register number − ICCAT Record Number − Time period authorized for transshipping at sea − Flag(s), name(s) and register number(s) of the carrier vessel(s) authorized for use by the LSPLVs Upon receipt of the lists of LSPLVs authorized to transship at sea, the Executive Secretary shall provide to the flag CPCs of the carrier vessels the list of LSPLVs authorized to operate with its carrier vessels. 11. Each CPC shall promptly notify the ICCAT Executive Secretary of any addition to, any deletion from and/or any modification of the ICCAT record, at any time such changes occur. 12. The ICCAT Executive Secretary shall maintain the ICCAT record and take measures to ensure publicity of the record through electronic means, including placing it on the ICCAT website, in a manner consistent with domestic confidentiality requirements. 13. Carrier vessels authorized for at-sea transshipment and LSPLVs which transship at sea shall be required to install and operate a VMS in accordance with all applicable ICCAT recommendations, including the Recommendation by ICCAT Concerning Minimum Standards for the Establishment of a Vessel Monitoring System in the ICCAT Convention Area [Rec. 03-14], or any successor recommendation, including any future revisions thereto. 2 SECTION 4. AT-SEA TRANSSHIPMENT 14. Transshipments by LSPLVs in waters under the jurisdiction of a CPC are subject to prior authorization from that CPC. An original or copy of the documentation of coastal State prior authorization must be retained on the vessel and made available to the ICCAT observer when requested. CPCs shall take the necessary measures to ensure that LSPLVs flying their flag comply with the provisions of this Section, as follows: Flag CPC authorization 15. LSPLVs are not authorized to transship at sea unless they have obtained prior authorization from their flag State. An original or copy of the documentation of prior authorization must be retained on the vessel and made available to the ICCAT observer when requested. Notification obligations Fishing vessel: 16. To receive the prior authorization mentioned in paragraph 14 and 15 above, the master and/or owner of the LSPLV must notify the following information to its flag CPC authorities, and, where applicable, the coastal CPC, at least 24 hours in advance of the intended transshipment: − the name of the LSPLV and its number in the ICCAT record of fishing vessels, − the name of the carrier vessel and its number in the ICCAT record of carrier vessels authorized to receive transshipments in the ICCAT area, and the product to be transshipped, by species, where known, and, if possible, by stock, − the quantities of tuna and tuna-like species and, if possible, by stock, to be transshipped, − the quantities of other species caught in association with tuna and tuna-like species by species, where known, to be transshipped, − the date and location of transshipment. − the geographic location of the catches by species and, where appropriate, by stock, consistent with ICCAT statistical areas The LSPLV concerned shall complete and transmit to its flag CPC, and, where applicable, the coastal CPC not later than 15 days after the transshipment, the ICCAT transshipment declaration, along with its number in the ICCAT record of fishing vessels in accordance with the format set out in Annex 1. Receiving carrier vessel: 17. The master of the receiving carrier vessel shall complete and transmit the ICCAT transshipment declaration to the ICCAT Secretariat and the flag CPC of the LSPLV, along with its number in the ICCAT record of carrier vessels authorized to receive transshipment in the ICCAT area, within 24 hours of the completion of the transshipment. 18. The master of the receiving carrier vessel shall, 48 hours before landing, transmit an ICCAT transshipment declaration, along with its number in the ICCAT record of vessels authorized to receive transshipment in the ICCAT Convention area, to the competent authorities of the State where the landing is to take place. ICCAT Regional Observer Program 19. Each CPC shall ensure that all carrier vessels transshipping at sea have on board an ICCAT observer in accordance with the ICCAT regional observer program specified in Annex 2. The ICCAT observer shall observe the adherence to this Recommendation, and, notably, that the transshipped quantities are consistent with the reported catch in the ICCAT transshipment declaration and, as feasible, as recorded in the fishing vessel logbook. 20. Vessels shall be prohibited from commencing or continuing transshipping in the ICCAT Convention area without an ICCAT regional observer on board, except in cases of force majeure duly notified to the ICCAT Secretariat. 3 SECTION 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS 21. To ensure the effectiveness of the ICCAT conservation and management measures pertaining to species covered by Catch and Statistical Document Programs: a) In validating